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| Judith Prays
Dealing with the Promised Land:
G-d tells Moses to instruct the Israelites to destroy all the
sites of idol worship in Canan, evict the native population (or there will be
untold trouble), and settle within the defined borders of Canan which is the
Israelites’ hereditary territory.
The land is to be distributed by lottery to paternal tribes
according to their size.
The Levites are not to get any land but to be allotted 48
cities, more cities in the larger tribes, and fewer cities in the smaller ones.
The cities are to be surrounded by suburbs for their animals and other needs -
urban planning!
6 of the Levite cities are to be the cities of refuge for
accidental murderers allowing them protection from revenge until their case is
heard before a court of law. Intentional murderers are to be released to the
victim’s relatives and put to death. Two witnesses are needed to condemn a
suspect. Accidental murderers are to remain in the cities of refuge until the
chief Priest dies. One can not commute accidental or premeditated murder to a
fine.
Inheritance Rights (those Zelophchad ‘s
daughters again, such troublemakers). Leaders from the family
of Gilad raised the problem of land inherited by daughters. If they married
into another tribe, the property rights would go to the other tribe, reducing
the woman’s former tribe’s holdings. This is solved by the ruling that during
one generation only, an heiress should marry within her own tribe.
Nina’s Comment:
Do you see how the people are being elevated through the law of
the Cities of Refuge? If a person kills intentionally, in anger or hatred
- the punishment is death! If the killing is accidental - there needs to be a
lawful trial. Way ahead of its time. Makes me proud.
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The Why, Where and When
In May 2011 my daughter, Judith Prays, suggested that we do some Torah study together. It was an exciting proposition for me. Undeterred by ...
43. B'midbar - Itineraries (Masei)
in which the tribes of Reuven and Gad promise to help out the other tribes while not living in the land of Israel. God tells Moses exactly where each tribe will live. God clarifies the laws of murder. The daughters of Zelophehad receive their inheritance, with strings attached..